The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge eBook

They crossed the Shannon near Athlone and, marching
through the province of Meath, arrived at the borders
of Cualnge. Fortunately for the invaders, the
expedition took place while the Ulstermen lay prostrate
in their cess, or “Pains,” a mysterious
state of debility or torpor which was inflicted on
them periodically in consequence of an ancient curse
laid upon Conchobar and the warriors of Ulster as
a punishment for a wrong done to the goddess Macha.
This strange malady, resembling the couvade
among certain savage nations, ordinarily lasted five
days and four nights, but on this occasion the Ulstermen
were prostrate from the beginning of November till
the beginning of February. During all that time
the burden of defending the province fell on the shoulders
of the youthful champion Cuchulain, who had in his
particular charge the plain of Murthemne, the nearest
district to Cualnge, the goal of the expedition.
For Cuchulain and his father Sualtaim were alone exempt
from the curse and the “Pains” which had
befallen the remainder of the champions of Ulster.

IV. The Youthful Exploits of Cuchulain

The Connacht host had not proceeded far when they
came upon evidence of some mighty force that opposed
them. In answer to the inquiries of Ailill and
Medb, Fergus explains that it is Cuchulain who disputes
their further advance, and, as evidence of the superhuman
strength and prowess of the Ulster youth, then in
the seventeenth year of his age, the Ulster exiles
recount the mighty deeds he had performed in his boyhood,
chief among which is the tale according to which,
as eric for the killing of the hound of Culann the
Smith, the boy-hero Setanta assumed the station and
the name which ever after clung to him of Cuchulain,
“the Hound of Culann.”

V. The Single Combats of Cuchulain

Cuchulain agrees to allow the Connacht host to continue
their march on condition that every day they send
one of their champions to meet him in single combat.
When he shall have killed his opponent, the host shall
halt and pitch camp until the following morning.
Medb agrees to abide by these terms. In each
of the contests which ensue, the heroic youth is victorious
and slays many of the most celebrated warriors on the
side of Connacht. The severest of all these single
combats was the one in which he had as opponent his
former friend and foster-brother Ferdiad. At the
end of a four days’ battle, in which both adversaries
exhibited astounding deeds of valour, Ferdiad fell
by the hands of Cuchulain.

Impatient at these delays, Medb broke the sacred laws
of ancient Irish chivalry and led her army into Ulster,
overrunning the province, pillaging and burning as
she went, even up to the walls of Emain Macha, the
residence of Conchobar, and finally took possession
of the Brown Bull of Cualnge.